Endangered Species of the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos' Ecosystem Boasts Many Native and Endangered Species Found only on the Islands

Source

Why we Should Care About Native Galapagos Island Species

It may be non-native animals and plants brought to the islands by a young Charles Darwin in the early 18th century which started the process - His own theory of evolution collapsing in on itself and wreaking havoc on the very things he was so fascinated by. It is still tragic, and an on-going battle to preserve and save what species remain in this delicate ecosystem like no other on the planet. To lose any creature is to deny humanity the possibility of future discovery. Perhaps a cure for cancer lies in these precious plants. Or maybe we will find that native bees are strangely resistant to certain bacteria. Perhaps a little known budding flower will evolve into a superfood for people who live in space. Even if we never glean a single scientific benefit from the endangered planta and mammals on the Galapagos islands, we owe them the respect of being able to exist. Perhaps we do not know what role we are ultimately meant to play in this game of life, but I am relatively sure it is not to destroy living things in such a manner that their entire species would cease to exist.

Pinnacle Rock, Galapagos

Source

What are we doing about it?

The goal is to restore the islands to their original native populations. "Captive breeding" involves fencing or caging the animals with others of the same breed to encourage more offspring.

Additionally, the foreign species are being removed.

These efforts are beginning to turn the problem around, but the animals still need help. Spreading awareness of the plight of the islands and it's creatures, both flora and fauna, is another good way to help.

Why are we losing them?

Other species not native to the islands have been introduced here. Some of these foreign inhabitants bring disease, or are predators to the natural life on the islands.

Certain infectious agents arrive here via the air or the ocean, and wipe out many of the inhabitants

Illegal hunting and fishing

Humans - both the increase in humans who now live on the islands, and human visitors.

Global warming and its large-scale impacts on natural processes

Rising demand for local products

Blue Footed Booby

These are thefunniest looking creatures I've ever seen - but so adorable too! Check out their mating dance. Can you imagine we might lose them some day? What a disgrace! Nature can be funny sometimes. Let's enjoy their joy and keep them around. | Source

More on Galapagos Species

Blue Footed Boobies Mating Dance

Galápagos Tortoise

Giant Tortoises on Galapagos are among the longest living animals on earth, | Source

Galapagos' Giant Tortoise

These big boys dwell on the Galapagos Islands’ land. They are endangered due to overcollection by whaling ships. In addition, the introduction of predators to the islands has severely limited their natural reproduction. In some cases reproduction has been halted altogether. Vital captive breeding and rearing projects are being carried out at the Charles Darwin Research Station. These large tortoises are strictly protected in the Galapagos, which were declared a National Park in 1959.

Waved Albatross

Source

The largest bird of the Galapagos

The Waved Albatross, is known for it’s intricate mating dance. They mate and rear their young together, and only have one egg during breeding season. This makes them quite vulnerable, since both parents are needed for survival. In past years, the Galapagos Islands where they thrive have been overcome by two introduced species: the feral cat and the goat. The invasion of these animals led to a severe decrease in their population. While the animals have since been removed, the Albatross remains endangered until they can increase their population back to safe levels. This will take more time.

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

This is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)

Google AdSense Host API

This service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

This is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

Facebook Login

You can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

Maven

This supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)

We may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.

Conversion Tracking Pixels

We may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.

Statistics

Author Google Analytics

This is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)

Comscore

ComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)

Amazon Tracking Pixel

Some articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)